revelation of truth

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Sunday, 1 October 2023 : Twenty-Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday we heard from the Scriptures very clear sets of readings in which we are reminded of a very important thing that all of us as Christians have to do in our lives, and that is for us to be obedient, to the will of the Lord, our God and Master, in all things and in everything we say and do in our lives. Each and every one of us as Christians should always be truly dedicated and committed to the path which God has shown and revealed to us, in carrying out His Law and commandments at every moments of our lives and to the best of our abilities in doing what is righteous, just and full of Christian virtues as much as possible. We have to be truly dedicated to God in all things, and not just in name or formality only.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Ezekiel, we heard of the words of the Lord delivered to His people, calling upon all of them to repent from their sins and wicked ways, highlighting how everyone will be judged by each and every one of their deeds and actions, their words and all that they have not done, and also by what they have not done in their lives, their every interactions with one another. The righteous ones will be judged for the sins that they have made, and if they are found wanting and lacking, then they will suffer for what shortcomings and mistakes they had made. Meanwhile, on the other hand, even the wicked will be justified and made worthy for the good and faithful deeds that they have done. This is a reminder for us not to think that we are more deserving of God’s grace or more worthy than others, and then neglect our need to do God’s will.

In our second reading today, taken from the famous part of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians, we heard the Apostle highlighting the obedience of Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man, Our Lord and Saviour, in fulfilling what His Heavenly Father had commanded Him to do, entrusting in His hands, the salvation and deliverance of all of the people of God, the whole mankind, through His suffering and death on the Cross. He has done everything that God the Father has told Him to do, perfectly obeying everything even unto death. Unlike the first Adam, the first man and our first ancestor, and his wife, Eve, the first woman, who both disobeyed the Lord and His commands, by choosing to listen to the lies and falsehoods of the devil instead of trusting in God, Christ as the New Adam has obeyed the Lord perfectly, showing us that it is indeed possible for us to be truly faithful, obedient and committed to God.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard from the Gospel of St. Matthew about the parable of the Lord, as He told His disciples about two sons, who were different in how they responded to their father’s call upon them to do his commands. One of the child told his father that he would do what he had been asked to do, but in the end, did not do the works, while the other child said that he did not want to do what he had been asked to do, and yet, still did the work in the end, nonetheless. we heard how the Lord then asked the disciples on who actually did obey the father in the end, and it was rather unanimous that everyone agreed how the one who actually did the works, despite having refused the father’s commands earlier on, and having verbally said that he did not want to do as he was asked to. Of course, ideally, it is even better that we listen, obey in both words and actions, but as we heard and discussed, we must indeed act on what we have been called to do, and not be idle on it.

From what we have heard in that Gospel passage, we are all reminded that what God wants from us is not just mere words and proclamations only, and not just mere promises that can be empty and meaningless. He wants from us true commitment and actions, which we all should show in our every moments in life. Otherwise, if we do not do and act in the manner that we have professed our faith or beliefs in, then we are just like those hypocrites who say and profess belief in something and yet, act in a different manner from what they had said. This is not something that each one of us should be doing in our lives. The Lord Jesus in particular has often rebuked and criticised the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law for the hypocrisy of their faith and actions, and therefore, He also reminded us all, that we must be people of action, of doing God’s will in all things.

We already have the perfect example for this, which is none other than the Lord Jesus Himself, our Lord and Saviour, Whose perfect obedience we have just discussed and reflected upon. The Lord has shown us all His love and kindness, His mercy and compassion, not just with mere words and professions only, or only through promises and more promises. Instead, He has fulfilled them with real action, embodying that love through His Son, Who bore His Cross, filled with the innumerable burden of our sins and wickedness, suffering all the punishments and consequences that should have been ours, so that by His action and genuine love, all of us may be saved and delivered from damnation and certain destruction. He has shown us all the path to eternal life through His Cross, and revealed His love to us through every wounds that He endured for our sake.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we have seen just how great God’s love is for us, and we have been so blessed that God has done everything for our sake, by suffering and dying on the Cross for us. He showed His love for us in real action and commitment, to the Covenant of love that He has established and affirmed with all of us. Therefore, each and every one of us should also have the same kind of love in us, love that is genuine and generous, first of all for the Lord, our God, Who has loved us and cared for us all these while, and Who has suffered and died for our sake. And we should also have the same kind of love for our fellow brothers and sisters, our fellow men and women, who live all around us, and whom we encounter in our various occasions and opportunities.

That is our calling and mission as Christians, to show God’s love and compassion, His kindness and mercy through our own actions, words and deeds. As Christians, we are all called to be filled with God’s love, to be virtuous and righteous as best as possible. Through our exemplary actions, works and deeds, that is how we can convince more and more people to come to know the Lord and to experience His love. Each and every one of us must remember that we are all part of this same ministry and mission entrusted to us by God, as members and parts of His Church, to be loving and compassionate, kind and generous to each other, and to show the light of Christ, His way and truth to everyone that we encounter in each and every moments of our lives.

Therefore, let us all remind ourselves each day and at every moment, so that we may always strive to do our best to be the good role models and examples for our fellow brothers and sisters, as good and loving Christians, filled with care and concern for our fellow men and women, and always striving to do what God has taught and shown us to do, in every opportunities presented to us. Let us all remind and inspire one another that our every works, actions and deeds may always truly glorify the Lord, our God and Master. May God bless us all in our every good efforts and endeavours, and help us in our journey and lives, in all things, and be with us always. Amen.

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Saturday, 30 September 2023 : 25th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we have listened to the words of the Scriptures, we are all reminded yet again of just how fortunate we are to have been beloved by God so much, that He has provided us with such great graces, in sending us His most wonderful guidance and help throughout all these time, and how He gave us the assurance of His salvation that He has fulfilled perfectly and completely through His Son, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The Lord has loved each and every one of us so much that He has given us the perfect gift, the manifestation of His wonderful love in His Son, that through Him, all of us have been shown and led to the path towards eternal life and true joy.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Zechariah, we heard of the vision which Zechariah received from God, a heavenly vision in which an Angel and a Man went around a heavenly Jerusalem, the Holy City, measuring its length and size, and how the Angel revealed to Zechariah that there would be no wall or protection required for the heavenly city of God, because the Lord Himself would be with His people, as He gathered all of His beloved people to Himself, calling all of them from wherever they had been scattered to, reuniting them all to Him, and reconciling them to Himself. They will be His people and He will be their God, and they all will enjoy forever the fruits of His love and kindness, blessings and graces.

We can understand this better if we know the context of the works and the ministry of the prophet Zechariah. The prophet Zechariah ministered to the people of God during the time after their exile and then return back to the land of their ancestors, and after they had started rebuilding their home back from the ashes and the destruction inflicted decades earlier by the Assyrians and the Babylonians. Back then, the city of Jerusalem was still in ruins, with not just its Temple, but the whole city and its walls had been torn down and destroyed. Therefore, God’s words to His people came at a most appropriate time, reminding all of them, that if they all trust in Him and walk ever more faithfully in His ways, then there is nothing that they should be afraid of. God Himself would protect them and defend them.

And as we heard from the Gospel passage today, we heard of how the Lord sent His Son into our midst as we have discussed just earlier on. And there, the Lord Jesus foretold of His upcoming sufferings, the moments of His Passion and struggles that would come upon Him, as He warned His disciples and followers so that they would be ready for those moments and remain strong in the faith, and not falling into temptation or despair, when the enemies of the Lord were to rise against Him. Linking to what we have heard in our first reading today, we should realise the significance of what the Lord had done for us. Just as He had come into our midst, and willingly took upon Himself our many sins and wickedness, He had put Himself between us and our accusers, Satan and all of his forces that sought our destruction.

Thus, that is how the Lord, our most loving God and Saviour, had suffered for all of us, as He looked lovingly upon us from His Cross. He chose to suffer so that we may all be saved and have eternal life and true happiness through Him. His love for us endures even through the various challenges and the many trials that He had to face, and through all the betrayals and stubbornness that He has suffered and faced from us. He reached out to us nonetheless, and tried His best to save us all, and to lead us all back to the right path, so that none of us may end up being lost from Him, and that we may enter into the glorious kingdom and inheritance prepared for us from the very beginning, just as He has always intended.

That is why, today, brothers and sisters, let us all discern carefully what we have heard and discussed earlier, and discern carefully our path forward in life. Are we going to continue to disobey the Lord and to harden our hearts and minds against Him? Or are we going to rectify our mistakes and errors, and listen to His words and advice being spoken in our hearts and minds? Let us all make best use of whatever time and opportunities that have been given to us so that we will always continue to live our lives most faithfully and worthily in all things, and that we ourselves may be good inspirations and role models for others all around us, in how we live our lives with faith in God. Let us all appreciate all the love we have received from God, and the compassion and mercy we have received from Him.

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Jerome, a great priest and servant of God, who is one of the four original Doctors of the Church, who is a great disciple of the Lord, and whose life and holiness should inspire us all in how we can live our lives in a more committed way to the Lord. St. Jerome was well-known for his ascetic lifestyle and dedication to God, and he was also remembered for his many theological works and writings, as well as his efforts in compiling the Latin translation of the Greek Septuagint Bible, which would become the Latin Vulgate, the version of the Bible used by many others up to this very day. He was also active in his other contributions to the Church, including as an important and close advisor to the Pope, so much so that he was considered as one of the precursors of the Cardinals that assist the Pope in the governance of the Church today. He was a truly dedicated and holy servant of God, in all the things he has done.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, the faithful examples of St. Jerome, his works and commitment should inspire all of us to live our lives worthily of the Lord as well, with focus ever directed towards God and not upon our own personal ambitions and desires. We should also help one another in putting our faith and trust ever more in God, and in doing what we have been all called to do as Christians, as God’s people. Each and every one of us should always be filled with the desire to love the Lord our God and to have constant faith in Him, at all times. We should not easily be swayed or distracted by the many temptations and challenges present all around us. May God be with us always, and may He strengthen all of us in our devotion to Him. St. Jerome, holy man of God, and devout servant of God, pray for us all sinners. Amen.

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Saturday, 30 September 2023 : 25th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Luke 9 : 43b-45

At that time, while all were amazed at everything Jesus did, He said to His disciples, “Listen, and remember what I tell you now : The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men.” But the disciples did not understand this saying; something prevented them from grasping what He meant, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

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Saturday, 30 September 2023 : 25th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Zechariah 2 : 5-9, 14-15a

Raising my eyes again, I saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. I asked, “Where are you going?” He answered, “I am going to measure Jerusalem, to find its width and its length.”

As the Angel who spoke to me came forward, another Angel met him and said, “Run and tell this to that young man : ‘Jerusalem will remain unwalled because of its multitude of people and livestock.’ For this is the word of YHVH : I, Myself, will be around her like a wall of fire, and also within her, in glory.”

“Sing and rejoice, o daughter of Zion, for I am about to come, I shall dwell among you,” says YHVH. “On that day, many nations will join YHVH and be My people.”

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Friday, 29 September 2023 : Feast of the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today the Church celebrates the great occasion of the Feast of the Holy Archangels, St. Michael the Archangel, St. Gabriel the Archangel and St. Raphael the Archangel, three of the seven Archangels that serve the Lord by His Throne, as the leaders and most prominent ones among the Angelic Host, and the three whose names are known to us from the Scriptures. Originally this day in the past was a celebration dedicated only to St. Michael the Archangel, the Prince of the Heavenly Host, leader of all the Angels of God in the struggle and war against the forces of the wicked fallen angels, the rebels led by Lucifer, now known as Satan, the great enemy and the deceiver, who had fallen from grace, and has swept a third of the Heavenly Host with his rebellion.

St. Michael the Archangel is indeed probably the most well-known among the Archangels, and we know him for being the one who leads God’s mighty Heavenly Host, the force of Angels in their constant and daily struggles against the forces of the evil and wicked spirits, the demons, fallen angels and all those who have been arrayed against us, in the spiritual warfare ever raging all around us. St. Michael according to tradition was not the strongest and mightiest among the Angels of God, as back then the most brilliant and mightiest among the Angels created by God was one named Lucifer, or the lightbringer, who became enamoured and arrogant because of his own brilliance, and in whose vanity and pride, ended up rebelling against God.

As recorded in the Scriptures and according to Church traditions, it was told that Lucifer aspired to be greater than God and to put himself above all the Angels of God and creation, so swayed he was by his pride and vanity, his greatest sin, and hence, in one tradition, took his seat upon God’s Throne when God was away for a moment. St. Michael was the one who rebuked Lucifer and told him that he was not worthy to aspire to such a height. And with his own name, Michael as battlecry, ‘Who is like God?’, St. Michael the Archangel led the forces of Angels that remained faithful to God, against Lucifer and those who sided with him, just as we heard in one of our Scripture readings today, as the War in Heaven. Lucifer was defeated and cast down from Heaven, where henceforth he is known as Satan, the devil, the great enemy.

St. Michael is especially honoured for his role in leading the forces of the faithful Angels in the struggles that happened then, and ever since, and also for his great faith and commitment to God. It was told that St. Michael always trembled whenever he is in the presence of God, as he, a mighty Archangel he may be, but he is still nothing compared to the Almighty God, Whom he served with complete commitment. However, before the forces of the evil, St. Michael the Archangel stands strong at the head of God’s mighty Angelic Host, ever ready to smite those who would harm the people of God, those who have been placed under the care of St. Michael and the other Angels, our Guardian Angels and more.

Meanwhile, St. Gabriel the Archangel was known to be the one who brought the Good News and revelation to Mary, the Mother of God, at the moment of the Annunciation, in which her role as the one to bear the Saviour of the world was revealed to her. According to tradition of the Church, St. Gabriel the Archangel was also the one who brought the news of the conception of St. John the Baptist to his father, Zechariah the priest at the Temple. Gabriel means the ‘Strength of God’, and through his role in delivering the words of God’s help and deliverance for His people, he reminded them all of the Lord’s guidance and providence, and how each and every one of us should remain firm in our trust and faith in God, and depend on His strength amidst the challenges and trials that may be facing us.

Then, St. Raphael the Archangel was known in the Book of Tobit as he took the disguise of a young man named Azariah, so that he could bring God’s help and intervention in the case of Tobit himself, the protagonist of the Book of Tobit, and Sara, the daughter of Ragouel, who would become Tobit’s daughter-in-law. Both of them had been beset by troubles, and prayed to God for help and deliverance, for strength and guidance, and it was there and then that God, having heard their prayers and willed to help them, sent His Archangel, St. Raphael, to go upon each of them, to help them and to show them His love and compassionate mercy. Raphael’s name, which means ‘Healing of God’ was indeed apt, as he helped to bring God’s healing to both Tobit and Sara, who were therefore freed from their problems.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we recall the deeds and the works of these mighty Archangels of God, Holy Archangels, St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael, let us all ask them for their continued intercession and protection, especially in the midst of the constant spiritual warfare that have always raged around us. Let us ask them to guide and help us in our journey of faith and life, so that in everything that we say and do, we will always do what we can in order to glorify the Lord by our lives and works, and to do His will at all times. We should always trust in the Lord and be obedient to Him as how St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael had always done God’s will and works, in guiding and protecting us at every moments in our lives.

Let us all be thankful of all that the Angels of God had done for us, and those three Holy Archangels whom we honour today. Let us all strive to live lives that are more worthy of the Lord, and be truly righteous, virtuous and worthy of Him. May God be with us all, and may His Archangels, St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael continue to help and guide us along our journey towards righteousness and grace in God. Amen.

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Friday, 29 September 2023 : Feast of the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

John 1 : 47-51

At that time, when Jesus saw Nathanael coming, He said to him, “Here comes an Israelite, a true one; there is nothing false in him.” Nathanael asked Him, “How do You know me?”

And Jesus said to him, “Before Philip called you, you were under the fig tree, and I saw you.” Nathanael answered, “Master, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” But Jesus replied, “You believe because I said, ‘I saw you under the fig tree.’ But you will see greater things than that.”

“Truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened, and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

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Thursday, 28 September 2023 : 25th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Wenceslaus, Martyr, and St. Lawrence Ruiz and Companions, Martyrs (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, we are all reminded of the need for all of us to follow the Lord and to entrust ourselves to Him, to do what He has taught and commanded us all to do in our lives. We must always be focused and centred on God, and not be swayed easily by the comforts and the temptations present all around us in this world. Otherwise, we cannot truly call ourselves as Christians, as to be true and devout Christians, and to be worthy of God’s inheritance and grace, all of us must be truly committed to Him in all things, and not merely just a formality or for appearances only. In our every words, actions and deeds, we should be filled with true and genuine love for God.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of the prophet Haggai in which the prophet delivered God’s words to His people, reminding the leaders and elders of the people, the heir of David’s House, Zerubbabel, descendant of the kings of Judah, and also Joshua, the son of the High Priest, essentially that they should place their emphasis in honouring the Lord their God above all else, and do not forget of the obligation they have in rebuilding the House of God in Jerusalem. Back then, after several decades in exile, the people of God, Israelites and their descendants, had been allowed to return to their homeland by the Persians, their overlords, and they had by then resettled comfortably in the lands of their ancestors.

Hence, it was truly inappropriate that while they had all rebuilt their houses and cities, their livelihood and their activities, back to how it was before the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, that the House of God remained in ruins and shambles. The House of God is the pivotal site upon which the whole community of the people of God should revolve around, and they should prioritise rebuilding that place where the whole assembly of the faithful could once again worship the Lord, their God and Master. Otherwise, without that physical focal point and place for the Divine worship of God, it might be easy for the people to be swayed and tempted once again by the wickedness and evils of the world which had misguided and doomed their predecessors before.

In our Gospel passage today, we then heard a short passage from the Gospel of St. Luke in which we heard about the remarks made by King Herod Antipas who found out about the activities of the Lord Jesus, and was perplexed and affected by it because he was reminded of the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist, the Lord’s Herald that happened because of his own folly and failure to resist the temptations of sin. If we have known more about the events that happened then, we should be aware that it was Herod’s fall into temptations and sin of the flesh that led to him inadvertently causing the death of the saint, by being trapped into the machinations of his wife, Herodias, who was not validly and legally married to him, being his own brother’s wife.

This is why, just as we have been reminded by these Scripture readings, we must not allow ourselves to be swayed by worldly comforts, desires and attachments, all of which may cause us to forget our focus on the Lord, and end up causing us to be easily distracted by all those temptations and distractions which had caused so many of our predecessors to fall into their downfall through sin and disobedience against God. We must learn from their examples and strive so that we will not end up walking down the wrong path in life, and that we will always be faithful and committed to God, regardless of the circumstances. This is why we should always remind ourselves of the obligations we have in living our lives as faithfully as possible as Christians, God’s holy people.

Today, the Church also celebrates the Feast of St. Wenceslas, a great man of God who was the Duke of Bohemia in the early Middle Ages. He was a great and upright man, who was dedicated to his role as the ruler over his country and people. At that time, the land of Bohemia, in what is now Czech Republic, was still only recently converted to the Christian faith, with significant numbers of the people still held on to their old pagan faith and beliefs. St. Wenceslaus and his many efforts were instrumental in improving not just the livelihood and well-being of the people under his rule, but also in the establishment of the strong foundation of the Church and the Faith among the people, and he also tirelessly did his best to advance the cause of the Lord and His Church. Unfortunately, he fell into the court politics and oppositions against him and his rule eventually led to him being assassinated by the collusion of his own brother, becoming a martyr of the Faith.

Then, today also marks the Feast of the Holy Martyrs of Japan, St. Lawrence Ruiz and his companions in martyrdom. St. Lawrence Ruiz himself, also known better as St. Lorenzo Ruiz, was not a Japanese, but rather hailing from the Philippines, where he was falsely accused of a crime, which led him to seek refuge overseas, and which led him to end up in Japan after boarding a ship bearing some Catholic priests from Macau clandestinely trying to enter the country. At that time, Japan under the reign of the Tokugawa Shogunate had closed its doors to any foreigners, except for very few merchants, and especially banned the Christian faith and its missionaries. Christians and the foreign missionaries, as well as local clergy were persecuted harshly and many died for their faith as martyrs.

St. Lawrence Ruiz was among those Christians who were persecuted and arrested because of their faith, and they all chose to remain steadfast and true to their faith in God, rather than to safeguard their lives and betray their Lord and Master. They refused to give in to the pressures from the authorities, despite the threat of certain death and most agonising forms of sufferings that they all had to endure in defending their faith to the very end. Thus that was how St. Lawrence Ruiz and his fellow companions in martyrdom perished, but their bravery, faith and commitment to God became source of inspiration and strength for so many others who had witnessed and heard of their most exemplary faith in God.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, hence, all of us should also do our very best to live our lives worthily of the Lord, by doing whatever it is that He has commanded and taught us to do in our own respective lives. Let us all remind one another, and be inspired by the holy lives, virtues and the courage that our predecessors had shown, like those shown by St. Wenceslaus and by St. Lawrence Ruiz and his companions in martyrdom. May God also continue to help and guide us throughout the journey of faith and life, so that hopefully all of us can grow ever more committed in serving God, at all times. Amen.

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Wednesday, 27 September 2023 : 25th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul, Priest (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, we are all reminded and called to be truly faithful to God, turning ourselves away from the path of sin, evil and wickedness, and embracing once again God’s path, His Law and commandments so that we may all indeed be truly worthy of Him, and be righteous and virtuous in all things. The Lord has not forgotten about us and has always loved us despite of our disobedience and evils, all the wickedness and sins we have done in our lives. He wants us all to come back to Him and to His loving and holy Presence, and hence, extended His mercy and compassion, kindness and love, reminding us that we are truly His beloved children and people.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of the prophet Ezra we heard the continuation of this week’s discourse from that Book, relating to us the events that happened during the time when the Israelites and their descendants returned to the land of Israel, the promised land, after decades of exile in distant Babylon and Assyria, as well as other places, by God’s grace and intervention, as He moved the heart and mind of the King of Persia, Cyrus the Great, who allowed them all to return back to their homeland and authorised the rebuilding of the House of God, the Temple of Jerusalem which had been torn down and destroyed by the Babylonians. Through these events, the people of God were finally restored to honour and grace in God, as God moved to forgive them from their past sins.

Their ancestors had foolishly abandoned the Lord, betrayed Him for the pagan gods and false idols of their neighbours, committing all sorts of evils and wickedness that were unworthy of being God’s beloved and holy people. They chose to depend on worldly powers and matters, means and strategies rather than to trust in the Lord Who has always been with them throughout all of their whole journey. That was why they met their downfall and destruction, their country, their cities and towns were destroyed, and they were exiled into far-off and distant lands, with foreigners and pagans being brought in to settle in their ancestral lands. All these humiliations and sufferings served to highlight the consequences of disobedience and sins against God.

The priest and prophet Ezra in our first reading passage today gathered the people of God after they have returned to their land and the rebuilding of Jerusalem and its Temple went well, and as we heard, he prayed to the Lord on behalf of all the people, gathering their prayers and thoughts to Him. Ezra conveyed the people’s remorse and regret over their many sins and wickedness, and also the faults of their predecessors and ancestors, showing the desire to once again follow the Lord their God wholeheartedly. At the same time, Ezra also reminded all of the people, of everything that God had done, in loving them and in being compassionate and caring for them, and hence, how they should all be grateful for what the Lord had done for them, and how they should all strive to do what God has commanded and called them to do.

Then in our Gospel passage today, we heard of the Lord Jesus sending out His disciples ahead of Him in order to do His works and ministry, among the people of God, proclaiming His Good News and truth, revealing God’s desire to save all of His people and calling all of them to the grace and mercy of God. The Lord sent all of them to show them His love and mercy that He has manifested into this world, embodied in Himself, as the Saviour of all, and how those disciples proclaim this same revelation and salvation in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Through all these, He wants us all to know that the path to His love, forgiveness and grace is always open, but the choice is ultimately ours to make, whether we want to embrace this path or not. Those who refuse to repent, and continue to sin against God, will have no part in the inheritance and eternal life promised to those who are faithful to God.

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul, one of the very well-known saints of the Church, whose life, commitment and dedication to God are truly inspirational and exemplary. He was a truly great servant of God, who has devoted himself to the poor and the needy among other works. This French priest entered the seminary early in his life and gained education to be a priest, and when he had been ordained a priest, it was, according to history and tradition, that he was abducted on a ship on his way, by the then notorious Barbary pirates. He was auctioned off as a slave and spent two years in bondage, passing from master to master in several places before eventually ending up with a former priest that had renounced his faith, and who was convinced by St. Vincent de Paul’s life and actions, to bring the man of God back with him, and freed him from bondage.

Through this experience and others, St. Vincent de Paul always had the concern for those who were suffering and needy. He spent time ministering to the freed slaves, having experienced similar experiences as them, and then also among the poor in his ministry and journeys, eventually being part of the establishment of foundations and congregations of those who were concerned and involved in the care and ministry of those who were poor and had been neglected by the society, ignored and abandoned, with no one to help or assist them. His works and ministry inspired many others during his life and after his passing, that eventually led to the foundation of the modern day Society of St. Vincent de Paul that is renowned for its work for the poor and the needy throughout the world.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, having heard of today’s Scripture readings and also the life and works of St. Vincent de Paul, let us all therefore be filled with the conviction and the desire to love and serve God anew in our lives, and to be loving to our brothers and sisters around us, especially those who are in need of our love, help and kindness, like those who are poor and ostracised by the society, and all those who have been unloved. Let us all be exemplary, righteous and worthy in all of our actions, so that we may truly be good role models and inspirations for one another in our lives and actions, in our every endeavours and efforts. May God be with us always, and may He remind us all of our obligations and calling to serve Him with faith and commitment, and to proclaim His Good News and truth at all times, in every opportunities available to us. Amen.

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Tuesday, 26 September 2023 : 25th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Cosmas and St. Damian, Martyrs (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, we are all reminded that we should be ever faithful to the Lord our God, in all of our lives, in all of our words and actions. We should always strive to be holy and to be faithful and committed to God, just as all of us have been expected to do as God’s holy and beloved people, whom He had called and chosen from this world to be His own. The Lord has shown all of us His ever patient and generous love, compassion and mercy, calling on all of us to turn once again towards Him, to turn our backs against our past sins and wickedness that had once separated all of us from His amazing love and kindness. He wants each and every one of us to be redeemed and to be reconciled fully with Him, so that through Him we may indeed have love and eternal life.

In our first reading today, in continuation from the reading of the Book of the prophet Ezra from yesterday, we heard of the continuing restoration of Israel, its people and fortunes after they had all been allowed to return from their exile in the distant lands of Babylon and beyond. Back then, the descendants of the people of Israel and Judah had been humiliated and made to suffer because of their own folly and disobedience, by their refusal to obey God’s will, Law and commandments, and by their wickedness and evils, in worshipping pagan gods and false idols, which made them to stumble and fall, and eventually had their cities destroyed, and the great Temple of God in Jerusalem, the House of God built by King Solomon, destroyed as well, and the Ark of the Covenant that had been with them since the time of the Exodus to disappear from their midst.

But as mentioned yesterday, God moved the heart and mind of King Cyrus of Persia, who conquered Babylon and then allowed the Israelites and their descendants to return back to their homeland and rebuild their Temple which had been destroyed decades earlier. And as we heard in today’s reading, King Darius of Persia, Cyrus’ successor, encouraged the people of God to rebuild the Temple, the House of God in Jerusalem, as the reconstruction of their homeland continued, with the reestablishment of order and the community, with the appointment of priests and those in charge of various events and festivals, as it was in the days of old when God’s Law and commandments, His festivals and events were still celebrated by the Israelites before their downfall and humiliation. This was a sign and proof of God’s continuing and enduring love and guidance for His people.

We heard of how the planning for the rebuilding of the Temple and the restoration of the community of the Israelites continued to go on, under the leadership of the priest and prophet Ezra, who have led the people of Israel from their exile with the other elders, reestablishing the festivals and celebrations of the Lord according to His Law, and how the people once again gathered in joy to celebrate their faith in accordance with God’s Law and commandments, with their priests and all the other functionaries and celebrants in tandem, showing that the people of God had truly been restored to the favour and grace of God, after they had once fallen from that favour by their own folly, by their wickedness, evils and disobedience against God, by their refusal of God’s ever generous love and compassionate mercy in all things.

In our Gospel passage today, we then heard of the words of the Lord speaking to the people, about the matter of obeying and following God, when His disciples and family reminded Him that His mother and others were waiting on Him as He was busy teaching and ministering to the people of God. At a glance, it might seem that the Lord had been rude to His own mother, but in fact, He was highlighting that His mother, Mary herself, was and is still the perfect example of that obedience and righteousness in God, that all of us as God’s people should follow in our own lives, in doing what He had told and taught us to do, and abandoning our past sinful and wicked ways of life, just as our predecessors had done.

That is why, as we are all reminded by the Sacred Scriptures today, each and every one of us as Christians ought to be ever faithful and committed to God, exemplary and worthy in all of our lives and actions, so that in our every words and actions, we should always embody our faith in God, which should truly shine through our lives, our every words and actions in life, that then should become inspirations for everyone all around us to follow, in their own lives and actions, that all of us may indeed be genuine and faithful people of God in all things, not just in mere name and formality only. This is what we have been reminded to do, to be like the people of Israel who had been restored to God’s favour and grace, that we may also experience the same as well.

Today, the Church also celebrates the Feast of two great saints, St. Cosmas and St. Damian, whose faith and devotion to God, and whose actions and contributions to their fellow brothers and sisters, fellow faithful people of God, should inspire all of us to live our own lives faithfully and worthily of the Lord. St. Cosmas and St. Damian were known to be a pair of twin brothers who were both physicians, renowned for their care for the sick and the needy in their community, as they provided care for the physical ailments of the people, and gave the care for free to the poor and those who could not afford to be healed. Miracles were attributed to them, and many came to them seeking for help.

Their faith and dedication to God also became inspiration to many people, as they lived virtuously and with great dedication to God. And as they were arrested and persecuted by the local governor for being Christians, then being the height of the intense persecutions of Christians under the Diocletianic Persecution, they remained firm to their faith in God to the very end, as they gave up their lives in honouring God, in refusing to bend to the demands of the pagan authorities to obey the Emperor’s orders and to abandon their Lord, God and Master. They chose to live worthily and die in faith and obedience, showing every members of the Christian faithful what it truly means to be Christians.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, can we all therefore be inspired by these great examples as well, that each and every one of us should be great role models and inspirations ourselves to our fellow brothers and sisters, in all of our lives, actions and deeds. Let us all be the bearers of the light of God to our fellow brethren, especially all those who have not known God and His love, His truth and Good News. Let us all do our very best to glorify God by our lives and actions, and be with Him, doing our part to serve Him all the days of our lives, as we should have done. Amen.

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Monday, 25 September 2023 : 25th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, we are all reminded of the grace and love of God, by which He has rescued and saved His wayward people, that despite of their constant and persistent rebelliousness and wicked actions, in disobeying Him and refusing to listen to Him and His Law and commandments, but God still cared for them all nonetheless and promised them His salvation and help, the promise that He has always fulfilled, again and again, from time to time as He continued to love them all patiently in each and every moments throughout history. And He has given us His Law and precepts so that all of us may know His ways and grow to love Him more and more, and be more committed to Him, in all things.

In our first reading today, we heard of the story of the liberation and emancipation of the Israelites from their exile in the distant lands of Babylon, after a period of approximately seventy years or several decades, that they were finally allowed to return back to their own homeland, the lands that the Lord had promised to their ancestors and to them. The Lord moved the heart and mind of King Cyrus of Persia, who had crushed the Babylonians and other rulers, to become the supreme ruler of much of the lands. The enlightened Cyrus declared the liberation of the people who have lived in bondage and exile, and allowed the Israelites in particular to return back to their own homeland, and to rebuild their homes, as well as the Temple and House of God in Jerusalem.

The people of Israel had been uprooted from their lands, firstly by the Assyrians who destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel, and then later the Babylonians who destroyed the southern kingdom of Judah, completing the desolation and humiliation of those who have rejected and abandoned God for the worship of pagan idols and false gods, because they have not been obedient to God and to His Law and commandments, having persecuted and oppressed the prophets and messengers sent into their midst in order to help and remind them, to guide them and to accommodate them to find the right path towards God. Instead, their persistence in disobeying God had led them to their downfall and destruction, humiliation and defeat. And yet, God did not let them to be wholly destroyed because ultimately, He still loved them.

That was how He emancipated and helped them, freeing them through the words and hands of Cyrus, King of Persia, that they might once again return to their lands and live once again the grace and love of God. He would not abandon them, and kept on guiding and helping them throughout the journey, and eventually fulfilled His promises to them, of salvation and deliverance which He provided to them through the coming of His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of all, into this world, to our midst. He came revealing to us the fullness of God’s love and care for each one of us, calling us all to follow Him and to put our trust in Him once again, so that we may truly break free from the chains of sin and darkness that had oppressed us.

That is why we heard in our Gospel passage today in which the Lord told His disciples and the people listening to Him to put the light on the lampstand in the well-known parable, in which the lampstand refers to the prominence that the light should have been placed in so that the light may illuminate the whole entire room. This light represents the truth, love and grace of God, which He Himself has bestowed upon us and blessed us all with. And in all of us, we have to put these gifts of our faith and everything that God has blessed us with, with great confidence and trust in God, in our own lives, in how we carry ourselves and do our parts in doing God’s works and in obeying Him, His Law and commandments. The Lord has reminded us all that to be His disciples, we must be truly faithful and committed to Him.

This means that our faith cannot be one of merely empty proclamations and creed. We cannot just be idle in how we live our faith, but we have to be truly committed, in all things, in all aspects and areas of our lives, by doing whatever we can, even in the seemingly least significant things, so that we may truly embody our faith and beliefs in all things, and that everyone who witness our lives and works, and interact with us may come to know God and His truth by our examples and inspirations. This is what each and every one of us have been called to do, and this is what all of us should keep on reminding ourselves each day, so that by our lives and commitment to God, we may be true people of God, those who walk ever more faithfully in His path, and becoming the source of His light to others in this world darkened by sin.

Let us all therefore commit ourselves from now on, if we have not yet done so, to do God’s will and to obey His Law and commandments, to love God with all of our heart and mind, with all our strength and capabilities, and with all of our whole being. Let us all also be loving and forgiving, compassionate and kind to our fellow brothers and sisters, in fulfilling and obeying everything that He had given to us and provided for us. Let us not be disheartened or be tempted to do otherwise, but keep on striving to do what God has taught us to do, in every aspects and in every moments of our lives. Let us all be great and faithful disciples of the Lord, with hearts and minds ever focused and directed towards Him at all times.

May God be with us always and may He always bless us, in each and every one of our endeavours. May He empower us always in living our lives as exemplary Christians, in all things that we say and do, now and always, forevermore. Amen.